PROSTATE HEALTH

Over 233,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and almost 30,000 die. There are other common prostate issues such as enlarged prostate due to benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), or prostatitis. Prostate health is one of the most crucial aspects to a man's health.

The best way to prevent prostate problems is with a healthy lifestyle. There are many natural ways to promote better prostate health, even if men already have symptoms or a diagnosis.

If a man already is experiencing prostate troubles, these natural changes can help keep these conditions from getting worse, help relieve symptoms, and even help cure them.

1. Green tea

Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks and is high in antioxidants. Antioxidants prevent cancer associated cells from attacking healthy cells and can decrease cancer risk. Green tea can help protect against prostate cancer. It also helps lower cholesterol, increase concentration and memory.

2. Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain lycopene - a powerful antioxidant that also gives tomatoes its rich red color. Lycopene may help lower prostate cancer risk, prevent prostate cancer or slow tumor growth in men who have prostate cancer. Tomatoes release most of its lycopene when cooked or pureed.

3. Vitamins and Supplements: Before taking any of these, it's important you talk with your doctor. But the following list of vitamins have been shown to keep your prostate healthy:

Vitamin D-3

Zinc citrate

Graminex flower pollen extract

Quercetin

Saw palmetto

Meriva curcumin

Green tea leaf extract

Cranberry

Stinging nettle

Plant sterols

Pygeum

DIM (diindolylmethane)

4. Reduce stress levels

Stress negatively affects prostate health and some men subconsciously tighten pelvic muscles when stressed. Chronic tightening can create pelvic floor muscle problems can be one of the causes of chronic prostatitis and it can also effect a condition called BPH which is an enlarged prostate. it can also worsen urinary urgency, frequency and pain. Techniques like therapy, meditation, deep breathing and exercise and yoga can also help.

5. Exercise and lose weight: Moderate or vigorous exercise reduces risk of BPH and urinary tract symptoms, studies show and also has been shown to help with prostatitis, cardiovascular health, and can help prevent sexual problems (i.e. erectile dysfunction). If overweight, losing weight is one of the most important natural changes you can make to improve prostate health. A study published in the Journal of Urology found that overweight men, especially men with a high amount of abdominal fat, have an increased risk of BPH and can help reduce prostate size and help relieve frustrating urinary symptoms.

6. Talk to your doctor or see a urologist: Ask your primary care doctor about your risk for developing prostate cancer. Some questions and areas to discuss should be what medical screening tests you should have by age, family history or cancer, dietary recommendations and tell your doctor if you're just beginning a new exercise program or if you have the following symptoms. If you have discomfort anywhere in your pelvic or rectal areas, difficulty urinating or blood in the urine.

7. Stop smoking: Patients with prostate cancer who smoke are more likely to have a recurrence of the disease according to the American Cancer Society. They're also more likely to have more aggressive forms of the disease. When compared with current smokers, prostate cancer patients who quit smoking for more than 10 years had the same mortality risk than those who never smoked.